Author and Ghostwriter
I’ve finally done it. Bitten the proverbial bullet. Made myself a “leader” of a “writer’s group.” It’s a group where we practice creativity, which is, after all, a skill. Honestly, I stay away from writer’s groups as a rule because … who was it that said, “I’d never join a group that would have me … Read more
For writers and readers who have peeked at my memoir ghostwriting page, you know that I make the bold claim that I can write “funny.” So, I guess it’s time I talk about how humor works in writing, specifically dry humor. Humor is, of course, different in the minds of different people. Some folks love … Read more
It’s great when ghostwriting clients can find memoir themes that reach beyond their own lives and have something to say to the community at large. This is where you get to ask: What has my life been about? What have I learned? It all starts with finding a great memoir theme. Finding memoir themes is … Read more
I want to talk about Abby Wambach’s memoir and why I didn’t really like it, but I’m quite sure what’s wrong with Wambach’s memoir isn’t her fault. It’s probably her agent’s, publisher’s, and editor’s faults. It all has to do with the fact that America has an obsession with trauma in memoir. In fact, I’m … Read more
Anyone who has ever tried to write her own memoir without any writing experience quickly discovers that it’s not easy. In fact, for most people, it’s impossible. Not everyone is a writer. In fact, most people have trouble stringing a few sentences together in a compelling way, and that is as it should be. Becoming … Read more
Today, I’d like to talk to memoir ghostwriting clients about something I use in the process of writing your memoir: a timeline. The timeline is a research document, and in it, I simply catalogue all the life events you’ve told me about. I put these events into a grid, in order, listed by year. Timelines … Read more
As a memoir ghostwriter, the question clients probably ask me most often is, “Will anyone actually want to read about this subject matter?” My honest answer isn’t yes or no, because, let’s face it, there’s no way to read the minds of millions of potential readers. The best answer I, as a ghostwriter, can honestly … Read more
Periodically, memoir writing clients who want strong editorial support contact me. They’re not sure if they need ghostwriting services or if they can write the book themselves. They may want to consider hiring a ghostwriter who also works as a developmental editor. The main thing is: they’d like to try writing a book. If they … Read more
When memoir writers get started, they often write everything down, stream-of-consciousness style, just to get all the ideas on paper. It’s a good idea, but a lot of writers get insecure about it because they don’t realize this a type of pre-writing and only the first step in a long process. This random mental download … Read more
“If you’re a doe-eyed, raven-haired beauty with ninja skills, who speaks five languages and saves the world in her spare time, you should probably move on, but if you’re an accountant who wouldn’t mind taking care of a couple bookkeeping issues when I fall behind, I’d cherish you like a queen.” So begins the online … Read more